Pawn Shop owner killed... Greenville, SC

[Sportcat]

http://www.wyff4.com/news/9673114/detail.html

Investigators Look For Witness In Pawn-Shop Shooting

POSTED: 10:24 pm EDT August 13, 2006
UPDATED: 11:33 pm EDT August 13, 2006

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Investigators are still looking for the man who opened fire in a Greenville County pawn shop on Saturday, killing the owner and wounding an employee.

To help find him, they're looking for a customer who may have seen the shooter in the parking lot.

Henson's death was the 13th homicide this year in Greenville County.

When deputies entered the Fast Cash Pawn Shop on White Horse Road about 2:30 p.m. Saturday, they found owner Tim Henson shot to death.

An employee who was wounded in the shooting called 911.

He was able to give the deputies a description of the shooter and other information about the robbery that investigators said was the reason for the crime.

Investigators said the suspect left with merchandise from the shop, but investigators declined to say what.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is working on the case.

"This pawn shop did deal in firearms, taking firearms in on pawn and selling new firearms," Greenville County Sheriff's Master Deputy Tony Lee told WYFF News 4's Tracy Atwood. "(ATF) can help us by going in doing an audit on the guns to tell us if there are guns missing compared with the records from the pawn shop."

Detectives are searching for a witness who may also have seen the shooter.

Investigators said they believe the shooter told one or more customers in the parking lot that the pawn shop was closed.

"We think that our lead to help clear this case may come from someone in the public that did see something," Lee said. "Something suspicious or someone acting in an unusual way, or maybe leaving that area."

Deputies said that the customer they're looking for was driving a white vehicle, probably a pickup truck. They're asking that person to call the sheriff's office.

The national pawnbroker's association is offering a $10,000 reward in the case.

The suspect is described as a bald white male, about 5 feet, 10 inches tall with a slim build. He is described as being 20-25 years old with a thin beard.

---

Tim was a super nice guy. I had the pleasure of speaking with him and doing business with him at a few gun shows. Fast Cash Pawn seemed to always have the best prices and customer service.

 

[Sportcat]

Video...

http://www.wyff4.com/video/9671715/index.html

 

[ScottsGT]

Damn! I just bought my New Vaquero from them at our gunshow two weeks back. That group from Fast Cash has to be the best group of people I have ever delt with.

 

[Ala Dan]

Very Sad

Prayers and condolences sent too his family and friends~! May GOD
speed to his every need.

 

[Sportcat]

Over 100 guns stolen!

http://www.wyff4.com/news/9673114/detail.html

Investigators: More Than 100 Guns Stolen From Pawn Shop

POSTED: 10:24 pm EDT August 13, 2006
UPDATED: 2:13 pm EDT August 14, 2006

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Investigators said Monday that the man who opened fire in a Greenville County pawn shop, killing the owner and wounding an employee, also stole more than 100 guns from the shop.

The shop's surveillance system was not working at the time of the shooting on Saturday, Greenville County Sheriff's Lt. Shay Smith told WYFF News 4.

Fast Cash Pawn Shop owner Tim Henson was shot to death about 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. Henson's death was the 13th homicide this year in Greenville County.

An employee was also shot and wounded in the robbery, but was able to call 911 and give deputies a description of the shooter.

To help find the suspect, investigators said that they looking for a customer in a white pickup truck who may have seen the shooter in the parking lot of the shop on White Horse Road.

Detectives are now searching for a witness who may also have seen the shooter.

Investigators said they believe the shooter told one or more customers in the parking lot that the pawn shop was closed.

"We think that our lead to help clear this case may come from someone in the public that did see something," Lee said. "Something suspicious or someone acting in an unusual way, or maybe leaving that area."

Deputies said that the customer they're looking for was driving a white vehicle, probably a pickup truck. They're asking that person to call the sheriff's office.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is working on the case because firearms are involved in the crime.

Monday, the ATF said it is offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to a conviction in the case. That money is in addition to a $10,000 reward offered by the South Carolina Pawnbroker's Association.

The suspect is described as a bald white male, about 5 feet, 10 inches tall with a slim build. He is described as being 20-25 years old with a thin beard.

 

[DouglasW]

Investigators said Monday that the man who opened fire in a Greenville County pawn shop, killing the owner and wounding an employee, also stole more than 100 guns from the shop.

Tragic. My sympathies to the owners' family...but something smells fishy about the missing firearms (and the disabled video surveillance). Don't you think the wounded employee -- the one who called 911 and was therefore still conscious -- might have noticed the perp leaving with more than 100 firearms and been able to mention that to police before the ATF audit? That's not something you just stuff in your pockets like a wad of bills as you're running out the door...

Hope the witness can provide some good info, and they catch the guy(s) soon.

 

[Ala Dan]

I would like too see a list of the 100 stolen firearms, with a partial
S/N if possible. Just too make sure that we don't buy into stolen goods~!

 

[Harley Quinn]

Pawnbrokers

Conway Twitty sang a song that was very derogatory towards Pawn Brokers.

When his very good Pawn Broker friend (mostly business when Conway was down on his luck) complained to him about the song. Conway said it would not be played anymore, or released again. I wonder if his estate kept the promise.

Pawnbrokers, have a place in society, if not they would not exist. Even the Catholic Church got involved in it in Mexico. Most just want the money to go out and come back in a bigger amount. Over and over and over.

I have bought some good shooters/knives from PawnBrokers. Quick turn of the money and out it goes again (money) to come back bigger again next time.

Some say that most of the guns that kill people come from Pawn shops...LOL
Now tell me does that make sense???

Risky business, that is for sure. Sorry to hear another Pawn Broker has been killed by criminals.

Criminals are actually the terrorist's of this country, they are born and bred right here in the USA.
Pawn shops are one of the, if not the, most regulated business's in the USA.

Regards, HQ

 

[Hoppy590]

i donno 100 guns "stolen" i cant help but think somethings funny about his records

 

[Travis McGee]

100 stolen guns? Yikes! Ya think that got the ATF's attention?????

 

[madmattmd]

Sad news indeed. My condolences to the Family and best wishes for a full recovery of the injured employee. Despite pawn shops having a seedy image for many, they well serve a need in the community.

I am somewhat puzzled that not one person noticed a someone carrying out 100 firearms? Even if they were all handguns, how many trips back and forth would that take (unless he used a wheelbarrow)? Based upon a local gunshop having their FFL pulled by the BATF recently for "missing" guns from their inventory, I would speculate this may be more of a case where the authorities can not match up paperwork. I certainly hope so. 100 firearms stolen at one time is very distressing.

Matt

 

[Hoppy590]

how many trips back and forth would that take (unless he used a wheelbarrow)

I THINK I HAVE AN IDEA WHO DID IT!!!!



oh wait... hes already in jail. darn. some one else must have taken up the Tactical Wheelbarrel moto

 

[Harley Quinn]

Hope the employee is not involved.

In this day and age, of crime and criminals. It is not that far fetched.

Please keep us updated.

Three balls (sphere) goes back quite a way for the sign of a moneylender.
It has some good history. Google it, you will be suprised or not .

HQ

 

[Sportcat]

Suspect caught! Gee, imagine that, he had a criminal record and was released off of probation early

http://www.wyff4.com/news/9681344/detail.html

Shooting Suspect Arrested After Chase In Laurens County

POSTED: 10:39 am EDT August 15, 2006
UPDATED: 5:03 pm EDT August 15, 2006

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- The man accused of killing a Greenville County pawnshop owner was arrested in Laurens County on Tuesday afternoon after a 15-mile, high-speed chase, the Laurens County Sherriff's Office said.

Benjamin Erik Case, 23, was arrested near Laurens County High School at U.S. 76 and Stagecoach Road, the Sheriff's Office said. He is being brought back to the Greenville County Law Enforcement Center.

According to Laurens County Sheriff Ricky Chastain, Case was spotted on River Forks Road about 1:30 p.m., driving a vehicle that had been reported stolen an hour before.

Deputies chased the truck on U.S. 221 into the city of Laurens and then deputies and police continued the chase west onto U.S. 76.

City officers used stop sticks to deflate the tires of the vehicle.

When the tires went flat, Case got out and tried to carjack a motorist at the intersection, Chastain said.

Officers and deputies boxed Case in at the intersection and after some gunfire, Case was arrested. No one was injured.

State Law Enforcement Division agents have joined in the investigation.

Greenville County issued arrest warrants Tuesday morning for Case in the shooting death of pawn-shop owner Timothy Henson.

Case, of Greenwood, is charged with murder; assault and battery with intent to kill; armed robbery; possession of a weapon during commission of a violent crime and unlawful possession of a weapon.

Henson was killed and an employee was shot and wounded Saturday at the Fast Cash Pawn Shop on White Horse Road in Greenville County. More than 100 guns were stolen from the shop, investigators said.

Investigators said they they found some of those guns after searching more than a dozen locations in McCormick, Laurens and Greenwood counties.

Another suspect connected to the case has been arrested in Greenwood County and Greenville investigators said they have not ruled out even more arrests.

Case had been seen driving a black Nissan Maxima which was reported stolen in Greenwood, the Greenville Sheriff's Office said.

Investigators said that tips received through Greenville County's CrimeStoppers line led them to identify and charge Case.

According to the Pickens County Clerk of Court, Case pleaded guilty on armed robbery and false imprisonment charges in 2004.

He was sentenced to not more than six years in prison, but News 4 has not been able to confirm how much time he spent in prison.

According to a law enforcement source, Case was released from probation on July 29.

No Surveillance Video

The shop's surveillance system was not working at the time of the shooting , Greenville County Sheriff's Lt. Shea Smith told WYFF News 4.

The employee wounded in the robbery was able to call 911 and give deputies a description of the shooter.

Investigators said that they also looking for a customer in a white pickup truck who may have seen the shooter in the parking lot of the shop on White Horse Road.

Investigators said they believe the shooter told one or more customers in the parking lot that the pawn shop was closed.

Henson's death was the 13th homicide this year in Greenville County.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is working on the case along with Greenville investigators because firearms are involved in the crime.

Monday, the ATF said it is offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to a conviction in the case. That money is in addition to a $10,000 reward offered by the South Carolina Pawnbroker's Association.

 

[Harley Quinn]

Nice going for the police and all involved in the capture

Thanks for the update.

Sounds like it was handled well, Shot's fired no injuries? Someone needs to hone up on their shooting.

HQ

 

[RealGun]

Shot's fired no injuries? Someone needs to hone up on their shooting.

We might find that deputies have little more than politically correct pistols available and ready for long range shootouts. I am betting it was much more than 25 yards, the maximum for most practice and for sighting in. It would be interesting to explore the question of why no hits, keeping in mind that the BG did actually surrender. If he had been using a rifle, or the deputies for that matter, the story would be different, I believe.

 

[Yowza]

The very first gun I ever bought was from Fast Cash Pawn at a gunshow here in Columbia, it saddens me to hear this news. But I'm glad that cretin was caught and hopefully he won't get out of prison ever again.

Rick

 

[Kramer Krazy]

Damn! I just bought my New Vaquero from them at our gunshow two weeks back.

That's weird.....just a short time before Mr Bruin was shot and killed at his pawn shop in Easley, I'd bought an old Ruger Vaquero from him.

Sadly, the scumbag that killed Mr Bruin is still sitting in Canada. I hope they bring him back here and we hang the sucker.

 

[tellner]

It's a dangerous business. I'm sorry to hear that he was murdered. G-d willing the killer will be brought to justice.